Technical glitch affects helpline no. 181

The Delhi government-run 181 helpline for women in distress was disrupted due to some technical glitch on Wednesday. Several callers were not able to connect with the counsellors due to a disruption in the telecommunication lines.

According to officials, the telecommunication department said the disruption had been caused due to damage in their lines near ITO.

“We were not able to receive calls throughout the day. We are hoping that the helpline will be restored by tomorrow. Restoration work is being carried out on priority basis,” said a senior Delhi government official.

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit had set up the helpline number 181 after the brutal gang rape of a 23-year-old woman on December 16.

The woman had died on December 29 after being shifted to a Singapore hospital. Recently, the government had roped in women to receive calls to make the exchange between callers and counsellors less mechanical and more sympathetic.

Delhi government had also asked the police to maintain a register of calls as well as action initiated on them. It has also been decided that a review of the help line will be carried out every month.